Kickover tool



1960 T. G. GARWOOD ET AL 2,964,110

KICKOVER TOOL Filed May 1, 1958 INVENTORS Fig.5

Turner G. Garwood George G. Grimmer ATTORNEY KICKOVER TOOL Turner G. Garwood and George G. Grimmer, Dallas, Tex., assignors to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed May 1, 1958, Ser. No. 732,356

Claims. (Cl. 166-241) In the completion of an oil well, the tubing string of the well is often equipped with one or more side-pocket mandrels or nipples in which a longitudinal landing andsealing pocket is provided at a position laterally offset from the through bore of the nipple and tubing whereby a valve or other device may be positioned in said pocket to control the flow between the interior and the exterior of the mandrel through a port or ports in the exterior wall of said pocket and mandrel.

With such a device means must be provided for moving the valve to be installed in the pocket laterally from the through bore of the nipple to a point aligned with the upper end of the offset pocket whereby said valve may be inserted into said pocket. Various kickover tools have been devised for accomplishing this result, but they have one or more of several drawbacks. Many such tools are not selective in their kickover action; that is, they attempt to move the attached valve laterally in any and all side-pocket nipples. Many kickover tools do not have sufiicient strength to move themselves and the attached valve laterally when the axis of the nipple is not vertical as occurs in directional or crooked holes. The kickover arms of many tools drag the walls of the tubing as the tool is removed from the well thereby reducing the life of said arms.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a kickover tool which is free of the drawbacks and disadvantages of existing kickover tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kickover tool which will move a valve or other device laterally in a side-pocket nipple whereby said valve may be installed in said side pocket.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a kickover tool which functions to move itself and an attached valve laterally in a side-pocket nipple only when desired.

An important object of the invention is to provide a kickover tool whose arms do not contact the walls of the tubing string while said tool is being lowered in the well and whose arms do not engage the walls of said tubing string with sliding friction when said tool is being raised in the well, whereby the life of said arms is greatly extended.

A further object of the invention is to provide a kickover tool which, when operated, is not subject to jamming but whose arms remain free to flex inwardly whereby the tool may easily be removed from the well.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a kickover tool which is operable to install a valve in or retrieve the same from a selected nipple of a plurality of nipples installed in a string of well tubing.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a side-pocket nipple installed in a tubing string and the kickover tool with an attached valve being lowered therein, the kickover arms being in retracted position;

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the arms of the kickover tool extended, the kickover tool and the attached valve being moved laterally whereby the valve may be installed in the side-pocket;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the kickover tool in operative position, the arms being extended; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the central part of the kickover tool, being taken at degrees to the view of Figure 3, and showing the arms in retracted position.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral '10 designates a mandrel or nipple of the offset or side-pocket type which is threadedly connected in a tubing string 11 of a well. An eccentric fitting 12 at the upper end of the nipple provides a connection between the upper part of the tubing string 11 and a tubular section 13 of the nipple, said tubular section being of larger diameter than the tubing and welded or otherwise affixed to the eccentric fitting. The lower part 14 of the tubular section is further enlarged and may be elliptical or egg-shaped in cross section and is similarly welded to a lower eccentric fitting 15 to which the lower part of the tubing string 11 may be connected. The lower eccentric fitting is located on the major axis of the cross-sectional ellipse of the cross-section of the lower part 14 of the tubular section and is located near one end of said axis. The opening through the eccentric fitting at the upper end of the nipple is aligned with the opening through the lower eccentric fitting.

A valve pocket or landing and seating member 16 whose axis is approximately parallel to that of the nipple is welded in a window 17 in the lower elliptical part of the nipple, the pocket being located in a position laterally offset from the openings through theeccentric fittings so as not to interfere with the passage of tools through the mandrel or nipple between the openings in the eccentric fittings. Thus the bores of the upper and the lower parts of the tubing string are aligned and are continuous through the nipple. The nipple being enlarged, the side pocket does not protrude into the bore of the nipple to such extent as to obstruct or reduce to any degree the bore through the tubing string.

The valve pocket is provided with a plurality of lateral ports 18 through its exterior wall whereby fluids may flow inwardly from the exterior of the nipple into the valve pocket. An internal annular groove 19 near the upper end of the bore of the valve pocket provides for the locking of a gas lift valve 20 or other similar apparatus in the pocket.

The kickover tool 21 is connectable to the usual string or set of flexible line operated tools 22, said string of tools including a swivel or knuckle joint 23, a set of link or stroke jars 24 and a sinker bar (not shown). A running tool 25 is connected to the lower end of the kickover tool for lowering the gas lift valve into the well and installing said valve in the valve pocket of the nipple.

The kickover tool includes a body 26 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending radial slots 27. A deflecting arm 28 is carried in each of the slots and is pivotally attached to said body by means of a pivot pin 29 near the upper end of said arm whereby the lower end of said arm is swingable inwardly into said slot and outwardly from said body. The lower end of each arm is bifurcated at 30 to form a pair of downwardly extending fingers 31, and a roller 32 is carried between said fingers, being mounted on a roller pin 33 extending through said fingers whereby said roller may freely rotate on said roller pin.

The body has a longitudinal bore 34 which extends downwardly from the upper end of the body and inter. sects the slots in which the deflecting arms are disposed and a plunger 35 is slidably mountedin said bore and is disposed to engage the upper ends of the arms in said slots. The upper end of the bore of the body is closed by a sub 36 threaded into said bore and having threads 37 at its upper end for attachment to the string of flexible line operated tools. A plunger spring 38 is confined in the bore between the upper end of the plunger and the lower end of the sub to bias the plunger downwardly in said bore to press downwardly on the upper ends of the arms.

An inwardly projecting lug 39 is provided at the upper end of each deflecting arm such that, when the lower ends of the arms are swung outwardly the lugs 39 move inwardly to contact one another because of the pivotal mounting of the arms near their upper ends in the body. The outward movement of the lower ends of the deflecting arms is thus limited.

The upper ends of the deflecting arms and the lugs are beveled at 49, said bevels extending upwardly and inwardly of the body at such an angle with the axes of the arms that, when the lower ends of the arms are swung outwardly to their limit of movement, the beveled surfaces of the upper ends of the arms are perpendicular to the axis of the body. Conversely, when the lower ends of the arms are swung inwardly to retracted position in the body, the bevels of their upper ends are inclined downwardly and outwardly from a point near the center of the body.

The lower face of the plunger engages the beveled upper ends of the arms and lugs and, under the downward biasing force of the plunger spring urges the upwardly and inwardly extending ends of the bevels on the upper ends of the arms, the arms pivoting about the pivot pins 29 whereby the lower ends of the arms extend as shown in Figure 3.

A retainer sleeve 41 surrounds the lower reduced portion 42 of the body and is longitudinally slidable thereon. The upward movement of the sleeve on the body is limited by the engagement of the upper end of the sleeve with an external annular stop shoulder 43 formed at the point of reduction of the lower part 42 of the body. The stop shoulder is so positioned that the lower ends of the deflecting arms may be swung inwardly to retracted position against the biasing force of the plunger spring and the retainer sleeve slid upwardly to engagement with said stop shoulder whereby said lower ends of the arms are enclosed by the upper end of the sleeve 41 as shown in Figure 4, the arms thus being positively held in retracted position. The downward movement of the sleeve on the body is limited by a collar 44 which is fastened to the body by means of a pin 45.

A pair of holding or latch pins 46 are disposed in a transverse bore 47 in the body and are retained therein by the sleeve 41 against the outward biasing force exerted by a latch spring 48 positioned in said bore between and engaging the inner ends of said latch pins. The outer ends of the latch pins are beveled at.49 whereby they may enter an internal annular holding or latch groove or recess 50 in the sleeve, said groove being so located in the sleeve as to be positioned for entry of the ends of the latch pins therein when said sleeve is in its upper position on the body. The pins and the groove thus function as a latch or detent mechanism to releasably hold the sleeve in its upper position on the body.

A pair of diametrally opposed longitudinally extending 'slots 51 are provided in the wall of'the retainer sleeve,

and a release wire 52 is disposed in each slot. The release wires are provided with a straight longitudinally extending main portion 53 and an upper outwardly and up wardly extending portion 54. A short outwardly extending hook portion 55 is provided below the straight main portion 53.

The main portions 53 of the release wires are positioned in a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 56 formed in the outer surface of the body, the upper portions of the release wires extending upwardly and outwardly through the slots 51 in the sleeve. The depth of the slots 56 is approximately the same as the thickness or diameter of the release wires 52, and the lower hook portions 55 of the release wires protrude into lateral holes 57 through the sleeve spaced below but aligned with the slots of the sleeve, the wires being thus confined in the grooves by the sleeve and the engagement of said hook portions in said holes serving to maintain the release wires in proper projecting relationship with respect to the body and sleeve.

The lower part of the slots 56 in the body is deepened at 58 whereby, before the collar 44 is hired in position on the body by the pin 45, the sleeve may be moved downwardly to such position that the lower hook ends of the release wires may be inserted inwardly through the slots 51 in the sleeve and moved downwardly in the deepened part 58 of the slots 56 in the body and then moved outwardly into the holes 57 in the sleeve. The sleeve is then raised to the position shown in Figure 4, the release wires being confined in the upper parts of the slots 56, and the collar 44 is fixed in place on the body. It is also noteworthy that the engagement of the release wires in the slots 51 and S6 of the sleeve and body, respectively, maintains the sleeve in alignment on the body.

A pair of opposed locking holes 59', smaller in diameter than the latch pins, are provided through the walls of the sleeve at a point such that, when the sleeve is in its lower position on the body, the outer ends of the latch pins enter locking holes to lock the sleeve in its lower position on the body so that it cannot move back upwardly between the lower ends of the deflecting arms after said arms have been released by downward movement of said sleeve.

When the retainer sleeve is moved to its lower position, the lower ends of all the deflecting arms are released whereby all said arms may move outwardly. The outer ends of the latch pins enter the locking holes in the sleeve to hold the sleeve in its lower position whereby the arms may move inwardly when necessary, there thus being no danger of the sleeve moving upwardly and preventing the arms from fully retracting. When it is desired to move the sleeve upwardly, a small rod or other similar instrument may be inserted into the locking holes from the exterior of the sleeve to depress the holding pins inwardly and thus release said pins from said locking holes. The deflecting arms may then be moved inwardly to retracted position and the sleeve moved upwardly to its upper position to hold said arms in retracted position.

In use, the kickover tool is attached to the set of flexible line operated tools, a running tool is attached to the lower end of the kickover tool, and a gas lift valve or similar device is attached to the running tool. The deflecting arms are retracted and the retainer sleeve is moved to its upper arm-retaining position, said sleeve being held in its upper position by the engagement of the latch pins in the holding groove. As the entire assembly is lowered into the tubing string, the upper ends of the outwardly and upwardly extending portions of the release wires engage the walls of the tubing, the wires be ing deflected resiliently inwardly to allow the tool to move downwardly. The wires are not aitected by engagement with any restrictions or recesses such as occur at couplings in the string as the tools are lowered, because of their upward and outward extension. When an offset or sidepocket nipple is reached, the tools arelowered into the nipple, the gas-lift valve carried by said tools passing the upper end ofthe pocket as shown in Figure l, asthe deflecting ,arms of the kickover tool, are in the retracted position.

The string of tools is then raised, the upper ends of the release wires engaging a downwardly facing shoulder or restriction in the tubing string such as that formed by the lower end of the opening through the eccentric member at the upper end of the mandrel or the lower end of the section of the tubing string above the side pocket nipple. The wires thus hold the sleeve against upward movement as the body or" the tool is raised, the sleeve being moved to its lower position on the body, shown in Figure 3. The latch pins are cammed inwardly and disengaged from the holding recess as the body moves upwardly in the sleeve, and when the sleeve reaches its lowermost position on the body the pins enter the locking holes to hold the sleeve in such lowermost position. The deflecting arms are released by the downward movement of the sleeve and all move outwardly, their rollers contacting the walls of the tubing string.

After the deflecting arms have been so released, the set of tools is lowered in the nipple, and when the deflecting arms reach the enlarged section 13 near the upper end of the nipple, the lower ends of part of said arms move outwardly to engage the near wall of the mandrel while the lower ends of the other arms may move outwardly without restriction in the laterally offset portion of the elliptical bore of the mandrel. Gradually, the spring pressed arms force the lower end of the kickover tool and the running tool and valve carried thereby over toward the upper end of the offset pocket 16, as shown in Figure 2. The swivel or knuckle joint of the string of flexible line operated tools pivots, permitting the lower end of the kickover tool and the depending running tool and the gas-lift valve to be deflected toward the offset pocket of the nipple, while the upper section of the wire line tools in the tubing remains positioned therein. As the string of tools is further lowered, the gas-lift valve is guided into the upper end of the pocket by the deflection of said valve caused by the deflecting action of the arms of the kickover tool engaging the nearby non-eccentric portion of the wall of the nipple in the enlarged eccentric upper section of the nipple, as shown in Figure 2.

The string of tools is then still further lowered until the gas-lift valve is landed in the pocket. A latch member 60 near the upper end of the gas-lift valve projects laterally from said valve and is deflected inwardly against a biasing latch spring (not shown) as said latch means enters the pocket, said latch means being moved outwardly into the recess 19 in the pocket by the latch spring to hold said valve in said pocket. Upper and a lower packing means 61 and 62., respectively, sealingly engage the bore walls of the pocket on either side of the ports 18 of the pocket to direct the flow of fluids through said ports into said gas-lift valve.

The running tool is disconnected from the gas-lift valve in the customary manner, and the string of flexibleline operated tools is removed upwardly from the tubing string. As the kickover tool re-enters the tubing string, the deflecting arms are deflected inwardly toward retracted position against the force exerted by the plunger spring, the rollers 32 contacting the walls of the tubing and rolling therealong, thus reducing the pull required to lift the string of tools in the tubing. The release wires 52 will be bent or deformed as downwardly facing shoul ders or obstructions in the tubing string are passed, whereby said wires do not interfere with the upward movement of the string of tools.

When it is desired to retrieve the gas-lift valve, a pulling or retrieving tool is installed in the lower end of the kickover tool to replace the running tool. The deflecting arms are moved inwardly to retracted position and the sleeve moved to its upper retaining position, the release wires being replaced or restored to their original configuration.

The string or set of tools is lowered by means of the flexible line untilthe oflset or side-pocket nipple is reached, and the sleeve is moved downwardly to release the deflecting arms in the same manner as has already been described in connection with the installation of the gas-lift valve. The deflecting arms again deflect the kickover tool and pulling tool in the enlarged upper section of the nipple, the swivel or knuckle joint providing a pivot whereby the lower end of the retrieving tool is positioned and movable over the gas-lift valve in the pocket. As the string of tools is further lowered, the retrieving tool engages and grasps the upper end of the gas-lift valve. An upward pull on the string of flexible line operated tools causes the latch means of the gas-lift valve to be disengaged from the recess of the pocket, and the valve is removed upwardly from the pocket. The deflecting arms are moved inwardly as the string of tools re-enters the tubing string in the same manner as previously described, and the tools can thus be removed from the tubing string.

If more than one oifset or side pocket nipple is installed in a string of tubing, it is possible to selectively install a gas-lift valve in the pocket of any one of said nipples or remove a gas-lift valve from the pocket of any one of said nipples, as the deflecting arms are positively held inoperative by the retaining sleeve and thus permit one or more nipples to be passed until the definite steps described above are taken to move the retaining sleeve downwardly and thus release said arms for outward movement.

It will be seen that a kickover tool has been illustrated and described which deflects itself and the tools carried thereby in an enlarged offset section of an oflset or side pocket mandrel or nipple and thus moves the lower end of the depending valve into alignment with the pocket of said nipple whereby said valve may be installed in said pocket. Similarly, the kickover tool may carry a retrieving tool and may be similarly laterally deflected and aligned with the upper end of the valve installed in the pocket of an oifset or side pocket nipple whereby said valve may be retrieved from said nipple.

It will also be seen that the deflecting arms of the kickover tool are positively held inoperative and retracted whereby they cannot engage the walls of the tubing string until said arms are all released for outward movement. It will thus be apparent that a particular nipple of a plurality of nipples in a string of tubing may be selected for installation of a valve therein or removal of a valve therefrom without danger or possibility of the inadvertent operation of the kickover tool in an undesired nipple.

It will further be apparent that the deflecting arms of the kickover tool do not contact the walls of the tubing while said tool is being lowered therein. Further it will be apparent that the rollers of the deflecting arms provide rolling contact with the walls of the tubing as the tool is removed therefrom whereby the life of the arms is extended and the effort required to lift the tool in said tubing is reduced.

Additionally it will be apparent that, once the tool has been operated to release the deflecting arms for outward movement, the release mechanism is locked in a position where it cannot become lodged under said arms and so prevent said arms from subsequent retraction.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A well device including: an elongate body mem ber; a plurality of deflecting arms, one end of each of said arms being pivotally mounted on said body whereby the other free end of each of said arms may move laterally outwardly and inwardly of said body; means on each of said deflecting arms adjacent the pivoted end thereof engageable with the corresponding portion of other defleeting arms for limiting outward pivotal movement of the free ends. of said arms; means carried by said body resilientlylengaging said arms for urging the free end of said arms outwardly; and retaining means on said body movable longitudinally between upper and lower positions thereon and coengageable with the free end of each of said arms when said retaining means is in one of said positions on said body to retain the free ends of said arms against outward movement, said retaining means being movable longitudinally of the body member to the other of said positions for releasing the free ends of said arms for outward movement.

2. A well device including: an elongate body member; a plurality of deflecting arms pivotally mounted at their upper ends on said body whereby the lower ends of said arms may move laterally outwardly and inwardly of said body; means at the upper end of each of said arms engageable with the corresponding means of each of the other of said arms for limiting outward pivotal movement of the lower free ends of said arms; means carried by said body resiliently engaging said arms for urging the free ends of said arms outwardly; retaining means on said body movable longitudinally between upper and lower positions thereon and coengageable with the lower free ends of said arms when said retaining means is in its upper position on said body to retain such free ends of said arms against outward movement, said retaining means being movable longitudinally downwardly on said body member to said lower position for releasing the free ends of said arms for outward movement; and latch means on said body and said retaining means coengageable to releasably hold said retaining means in said upper position on said body holding the free lower ends of said arms against outward movement.

3. A well device including: an elongate body member; a plurality of deflecting arms pivotally mounted at their upper ends on said body whereby the lower ends of said arms may move laterally outwardly and inwardly of said body; means at the upper end of each of said arms engageable with the corresponding means of each of the other of said arms for limiting outward pivotal movement of the lower free ends of said arms; means on said body resiliently engaging said arms for urging the free lower ends of said arms outwardly; retaining means on said body movable longitudinally between upper and lower positions thereon and coengageable with the lower free ends of said arms when said retaining means is in its upper position on said body to retain such free ends of said arms against outward movement, said retaining means being movable longitudinally downwardly on said body member to its lower position on said body for releasing the free ends of said arms for outward movement; latch means on said body and said retaining means coengageable to releasably hold said retaining means in said upper position on said body; and lock means on said retaining means coengageable with said latch means on said body when said retaining means is moved to said lower position to lock said retaining means in said lower position.

4. A well device for use in a well pipe including: an elongate body member; a plurality of deflecting arms each pivotally attached to said body adjacent one of the ends of said arms whereby the other of the ends of said arms are free to move laterally inwardly and outwardly of said body; means on said body engaging and resiliently urging said other free ends of said arms to outward movement; inwardly projecting lug means at the pivoted ends of each of said arms engageable with the corresponding lug means of each of the other of said arms for limiting outward swinging movement of said arms relative to said body; retaining means on said body movable longitudinally thereon from a first position to a second position, said retaining means being coengageable with the free ends of said arms when said retaining means is in said first position to retain such free ends of said arms against 8 outward movement; said retaining means and said arms being disengaged when said retaining means is moved longitudinally on said body member to said second position whereby the free ends of said arms may move outwardly of said body; and release means on said retaining means engageable with said well pipe on upward movement of said well device therein whereby said retaining means is moved longitudinally of said body member from said first position to said second position on said body.

5. A well device of the character set forth in claim 4, including: latch means on said body and said retaining means coengageable to releasably hold said retaining means in said first position on said body.

6. A well device of the character set forth in claim 4 including: latch means on said body and latch means on said retaining means coengageable to releasably hold said retaining means in said first position on said body; and lock means on said retaining means also engageable by said latch means on said body to hold said retaining means in said second position on said body when said retaining means is moved longitudinally of said body to said second position.

7. A well tool for use in a well pipe including: an elongate body; a plurality of deflecting arms on said body, each of said arms being pivotally attached to said body near the upper ends of said arms whereby the lower free ends of said arms are swingable inwardly and outwardly of said body; means carried by said body engageable with said arms resiliently urging the free ends of said arms outwardly of said body; inwardly extending lug means on the pivoted upper ends of each of said arms disposed to engage the corresponding lug means of each of the other of said arms on said body to limit outward pivotal movement of said arms relative to said body; roller means carried by the lower free ends of said arms and projecting outwardly beyond the adjacent lateral portions of the end portions of said arms; retaining sleeve means mounted for slidable movement on said body from an upper position to a lower position; said retaining sleeve means being coengageable with the lower free ends of said arms to retain such free ends of said arms against outward movement when said retaining means is in said upper position; said retaining means being movable longitudinally of said body to said lower position on said body for releasing the lower free ends of said arms for outward movement; and release means connected with said retaining means and projecting laterally outwardly beyond said retaining means so as to be engageable with said well pipe on upward movement of said well tool in said well pipe for moving said retaining means longitudinally of said body from said upper position to said lower position on said body.

8. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 7, including: latch means on said body and latch means on said retaining means coengageable to releasably hold said retaining means in said upper position on said body; and lock means on said retaining means engageable with said latch means on said body upon downward longitudinal movement of said retaining means on said body to its lower position thereon to subsequently hold said retaining means in said lower position on said body.

9. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 7, wherein: said release means is deformable by engagement with said well pipe upon final upward movement of said well tool in said pipe whereby said well tool may be removed from said well pipe.

10. A well device of the character set forth in claim 2 including: anti-friction means near the lower ends of said arms and projecting laterally beyond the adjacent lateral portions of such ends of said arms, said anti-friction means being adapted to engage the wall of a well conductor in which the well device is movable to prevent engagement 9 10 of the free ends of the arms with the well conductor when References Cited in the file of this patent said arms are freed to swing outwardly to move said anti- UNITED STATES PATENTS friction means to extended position, said anti-friction means being held in retracted position by engagement 1,339,955 Hardel May 1920 of said retaining means with said lower ends of said arms. 5 2,664,162 Howard et 1953 

